Apple's iOS 5 is due to be rolled out on Wednesday 12 October. Among the features that it introduces are:

• "cloud" synchronisation via iCloud, Apple's own service;• over-the-air updates to iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices;• better notification system (like Android's, but from my experience better because it's more granular – you can go directly to a specific new email);• location-based reminders (note: may suck up battery because it requires GPS);• Twitter integration;• photo synchronisation between devices;• app downloads without repurchasing over the air to any of your devices;• most of all, no further need to synchronise your iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch directly to a computer. The computer is no longer the "hub"; iCloud is.

Did I say "no further need"? That's not quite true. There is one last synchronisation needed before you cut the cord: you'll have to check for an iTunes update, and iOS 5 will be a download which you will have to install via iTunes, from your computer, to the device.

But after that, you'll be able to cut the cord. New devices that you buy after 12 October which are capable of running iOS 5 (such as the iPhone 4S, iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS) should already be loaded with it – which should mean that they will not need that update.

Update: the update is expected to become available at 1800 BST on 12 October (thanks, @adrianshort).